January 20, 2016

Sts. Fabian & Sebastian

Mk 3: 1-6

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Called to Serve

We likely won’t be faced with the same pressures that Jesus faced to not do good. Surely people won’t be calling for our deaths, but we will face inconveniences that will prevent us from answering his call: If I stop to help, it will make me late for work. If I volunteer at this shelter, I’ll miss the big game. If I stop to talk with this stranger, my friends will judge me.

These inconveniences, these moments of discomfort, these are opportunities to show and expand the depth of our faith. For we are called to serve others not just when it is easy, but when it is inconvenient. When we go out of our way for Christ, we take one step closer to becoming more like him.

—Connor Walters is a communications coordinator at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland. He also coaches rowing and co-moderates the school’s Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Ministry to the Homeless.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve:to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds;to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any rewardsave that of knowing that I do your will.

—St. Ignatius Loyola

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Ignatian spirituality reminds us that God pursues us in the routines of our home and work life, and in the hopes and fears of life's challenges. The founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created the Spiritual Exercises to deepen our relationship with Christ and to move our contemplation into service. May this prayer site anchor your day and strengthen your resolve to remember what truly matters.

January 20, 2016

Sts. Fabian & Sebastian

Mk 3: 1-6

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Called to Serve

We likely won’t be faced with the same pressures that Jesus faced to not do good. Surely people won’t be calling for our deaths, but we will face inconveniences that will prevent us from answering his call: If I stop to help, it will make me late for work. If I volunteer at this shelter, I’ll miss the big game. If I stop to talk with this stranger, my friends will judge me.

These inconveniences, these moments of discomfort, these are opportunities to show and expand the depth of our faith. For we are called to serve others not just when it is easy, but when it is inconvenient. When we go out of our way for Christ, we take one step closer to becoming more like him.

—Connor Walters is a communications coordinator at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland. He also coaches rowing and co-moderates the school’s Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Ministry to the Homeless.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve:to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds;to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any rewardsave that of knowing that I do your will.